HOW AND WHERE TO FIND EXTERNAL FUNDS FOR YOUR PORTRAIT SESSIONS

A type of photography that sooner or later ends up catching you is usually the portrait . There are many reasons to justify this fact, such as that you cannot escape the requests of friends and family. Or that you feel more identified with people than with objects or that it is a difficult (not impossible) challenge that usually brings great satisfaction. There are many more, each one is dragged by his, I personally like the connection through the look. You will find (if you have not already done so) your own motives.

A BIG CHALLENGE

When I say that a portrait is difficult it is because it is. Apparently it can be very simple to shoot someone in front of you, but if you limit yourself to that gesture, the result is likely to disappoint both you and the model. Getting a good portrait requires connecting with the protagonist, and I don't mean you who shoot, but also the viewer, the person who looks at the picture. This must be trapped in his gaze, in his face, in the soul. If you don't connect at the same moment you see it, you will have failed. And you don't want that, right?

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FUND

Well, what will the background have to do with all this connecting, getting caught, and so on? Very simple, the fund is so important because it can help in that connection or, on the contrary, break it before it can even occur. It may be the total failure of the portrait. It would be a shame that for not choosing the right background your portrait was only worth going to the trash of your computer. That is why I am going to dedicate today's article to giving you ideas to find the best funds when planning your portrait session well . Does this mean that if it is not a planned session you have to take care of the fund? Well, no. If it is an impromptu portrait, you will have to take a look around and find the background that can best complement the model, the clothes he wears and what you have decided to tell about that person. If this is not possible, change perspective or shooting angle. A sky, for example, can save you from a hurry. But today we are going to focus on having different scenarios prepared to find the right one for each occasion (or session).

WHAT GOAL WILL YOU USE?

First of all it is important to be clear about the type of objective you are going to use . Why? Because it is not the same that you are going to focus on very close- ups , than on an American or a general level. It is not the same as working with an 85 mm, than with a 50 mm or 35 mm . The type of objective you are going to work with or the focal length you intend to use will determine what part of the scene you are going to include . Once you have this more or less clear you can look for your ideal scenario. This does not imply that you have to focus on a single plane or a specific focal length. You can go closing or opening plans as the session progresses (it is more advisable to gradually approach, when the model is more familiar and has more confidence with you and the camera). But if you intend to make general plans, use large negative spaces , etc., better prepare for this because to close it will serve the same scenario, but vice versa not

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL?

The next thing you should be clear about is what you want to tell about that person. Or if you just want to capture its beauty or the accessories it carries for whatever reason. If you can meet her beforehand, it will help you determine the aspects of her personality that you are going to show, if she is cheerful or reserved, if she is a determined person or with an extreme sweetness, etc. On the other hand, if you don't know her, it can be helpful to ask her about her hobbies or get some information. What is not possible? You will have to prepare a most neutral scenario and change the background as you go intimate with it and reveal details of your personality.

Portraits with character

IN BLACK AND WHITE OR COLOR?

Before getting into homework, I have to tell you that this is another decision you must make before choosing the fund. If the idea is to make a session in black and white, it will be useless to plan it in front of that beautiful and colorful facade of the new supply market. Or put your model in front of a bright red shutter because it matches your pin up lips. That then it seems feasible to shoot in color, great. But look with grayscale eyes, as the results are usually not the same in color as in black and white. And the same thing the other way around, if you are going to shoot in color, look for colors that fit you with the costumes, with the personality or with the light that you are going to use. Here are some tips that will be very useful to look in black and white.

Black and white or color?

HOW TO SEARCH FOR FUNDS

You will have to open your eyes from now on when you put your head through the streets of your city, when you go for a walk or when you make a trip to nearby towns, forests or beaches. Get into observation mode and look with your photographer eyes. An old shutter, the stone wall of the adjoining neighborhood, the old facade of a cinema, the old bookstore in your neighborhood, the abandoned factory, the modern facade of the new museum, the graffiti wall , the beach of the old boats of fishermen, a bridge, the ruined castle of the town next door, the yellow rock cove that you have 10 km from your house, the beech or pine grove in your region, the wheat field or daisies that you find The exit of your town. Any scenario that has something of interest , that you see that can offer you an interesting background, for the color, for the smooth, because it can help you enhance the feeling of loneliness of your portrayed, his love for books, his strong character, etc. , register it well and add it to your list .

SAVE THEM WITH YOUR MOBILE

A good idea is to photograph them with the mobile. For two reasons, one because many mobile phones offer you the possibility to save the coordinates of that place. The other because you always carry it on . You do not need to go out with the camera to hunt for locations, every time you go out (even if you are making the purchase) you can hunt places.

VISIT THEM AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY

Well, you already have an interesting place located. The next step is to visit it several times, at different times of the day. This will help you see how the light hits , when you can get a harder or more diffused light. And if you are going to use only natural light, check what time it is best to do the session. Do not leave the lighting of a random portrait .

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Here you have a list of places that can serve you, although above I have already advanced a few:

Bridge. I do not know what the bridges will have but they seem to me a very attractive place and that can offer many possibilities, both for general plans and for shorter planes. And they usually have water nearby, something that can also serve as a background in addition to filling you with energy and good vibes, perfect for relaxing the session
Beach. I know, it is a classic, but if you have it near you, you have a lot (but a lot) of luck because it is a place that offers great possibilities. The sand, the sea, the rocks, boats, the beautiful sunsets, etc., can be wonderful backgrounds. Here are some tips to successfully capture portraits on the beach .

On the beach

Abandoned buildings. The fact that they are abandoned allows you to work with the peace of mind that nobody bothers you, no matter what time it is. In addition, they can be a great scenario to show certain personality traits or emotions or even to play with contrasts. Here is an example.

The charm of an abandoned factory

Train station. If it is an old station, it will give you even more play. Freight trains, old, abandoned or even modern. Train tracks can also be a good choice.

Stations and train tracks

I usually. Do not discard the floors, they can serve as a background if your model does not have problems to lie down and you to shoot at a zenith angle or at ground level. From now on it will be justified that you go looking down;). (Be careful not to trip!)

The ground as background

Library or bookstore We are many book lovers, it is like that. If your model is one of these people you will surely appreciate a session surrounded by them. It will help you relax, you have an interesting background and your audience to know a little more about the subject.
Urban elements. Colorful or old shutters, interesting facades, modern buildings, crowded streets or lonely alleys, old shops, schools, sports halls, parks, designer bars, taverns with a hearth, markets and groceries ... The city is full of most beautiful scenery interesting, it is not always necessary to move to the fifth pine.

Urban scenarios for urbanites

Its environment. Another possibility to consider is the environment of the person you are going to portray. If you want to show your soul, your personality, your character or how you live, study the possibility of portraying it in your environment. Well at work, the music school you attend, your home, the bar where you spend the afternoon with friends or your favorite place to disconnect. If you see it feasible, propose it and choose the best scenario of those offered. In addition, she will be more relaxed being in her environment and will be more open to you and the camera.
Forests The green, or brown, autumn backgrounds are a perfect complement to the portrait. What I like most about these places is that in general plans you can not worry about distracting elements that can sneak into the scene (people, garbage cans, plastic bags and much more).

Forests and other forest areas

Castles, palaces, hotels or luxury shops. If you need to add a touch of glamor to your portraits these can be perfect places. Of course, if you do not settle for the facade you will have to ask permission;).
Rock, stone walls, Roman ruins, abandoned stone castles. The stone bottoms can also be an excellent resource both to blur and to include in the frame. They serve to emphasize the "hardness" of character Think well because surely you have some nearby.

Stone background

Fields of flowers, wheat, gardens, waterfalls, riverbanks. Nature, take advantage of all the colors that Mother Nature gives you . Vivid or soft colors, study what you have around you and what season you are in to get the most out of it.

Fields

LOCKER ROOM

Once you decide which scenario or location you are going to use for your funds, you can recommend to the model one type of clothing or another, especially for the color , so that they do not kill each other It can also happen in reverse, if the model or Model have very clear clothes that are going to wear, you can adapt to photograph on the stage of your list that best suits your dress. Whoever wears the camera must also know how to be flexible and adapt to different situations.

Caring for the locker room

REMEMBER

The fund must complement the portrait, enhance an idea, provide information about the person portrayed, but never, ever, eclipse it. Use your imagination to add scenarios to your list and never leave without opening your eyes And now, what are you waiting for to practice? Thank you for getting here and for sharing it on your favorite social networks. See you soon!

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